ABS grants Class to Saildrone’s largest autonomous survey vessel

At 20 metres in length and designed for operations across the world’s oceans without crew onboard, the Surveyor represents the largest class of USVs developed by Saildrone. The vessel is intended for long-endurance missions including deep-ocean bathymetric surveys and maritime domain awareness tasks.

Patrick Ryan, senior vice president and chief technology officer at ABS, said the achievement reflected ABS’ commitment to supporting the safe introduction of new technologies.

Richard Jenkins, founder and chief executive of Saildrone, described the certification as the outcome of a multi-year process and significant investment, noting that it provides assurance of the vessel’s safety and technical maturity.

The Surveyor follows the 10-metre Voyager, which received ABS Class in 2023 and is focused on persistent surveillance in coastal and near-shore environments. All Saildrone USVs operate without crew and are continuously monitored remotely by the company’s Mission Management team.